Vol. 492 No. 3
45 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, on an application made in 1997 for the farm retirement scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the problems encountered can be overcome by the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13901/98]
The land originally offered as enlargement by the transferee for the purposes of establishing eligibility for the early retirement from farming pension was the subject of a transfer from the transferor after 30 July 1992 and was therefore ineligible. The transferee was advised accordingly and processing of the application was delayed until alternative lands were offered as enlargement.
The matter of enlargement has now been resolved and subject to establishing the pension status with the Department Social, Community and Family Affairs payment of the early retirement pension will be made. In this instance payment of the early retirement pension will be retrospective to 2 January 1998, the date of valid application.
